Mat for billiard or pool tables



April 14, 1931. A. B. CRosTHwAlT y MAT FOR BILLIARD OR POOL TABLES FiledJuly 14. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l @l @'QD@ @D @D c@ @9 @D Q @D @D C@ @0) @9@D @D c@ @9 c@ @D C@ '2* A J Q) (5) @D @D QD 14B. www

INVENTOR ATTORNEY pll114, 1931 A. B. cRosTHwAlT 1,801,142

Y MAT PQR BILLIARD OR POOL TABLES Filed July 14. 1928 2 Sheets-Sh 2NNNNNN OR ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 14, 1931 UNTED STATES PATENT @FFCE .ASAB. CROSTHWAIT, F HORCONCITOS, VERA. CRUZ, MEXICO, ASSIGNOR 0FTIVO-FIFTES T0 WILLIS 0. DENNIS,

0F NAR-AJOS, MEXICO Application filed July 14,

rlhis invention is designed to provide an interesting game by whichbilliard players may engage in a trial of skill combined with aconsiderable element of chance, and may be followed by any number ofcontestants. In

carrying out the invention I provide a rectangular mat of vulcanizedrubber adapted to fit the top surface of a billiard or pool tablesnugly. The body of the mat is formed throughout of an elastic, softvulcanized rubber composition having the forward part provided with aseries of longitudinal ribs an inch or more high forming chutes in whicha carom or cue ball may be directed. billiard ball is placed in themiddle front near the cushion and may be directed into any one of markedspaces in the front of the table. I preferably provide chutes defined bynine ribs occupying the rear part of the table 29 and extending forwardabout half its length and in the several chutes are marker indicatingnumbers of progressively increasing value forward and of still greatervalue toward the lateral chutes. I provide also countersunlr spaces atdifferent positions in the front part of the table of varying Valueaccording to the difficulty necessary to bring a ball to rest at thatpoint.

A cue ball may be placed in a midway po- 30 sition between the sides ofthe table at the front and when caused to fall into any chute the'number serial with the consecutive numbers placed along said chute willregister the value of the shot. Interlined with the lon- 5 gitudinalcenter of the table I place a removable section for a carom ball whichmay be positioned at dierent spaced spots from the front of the table orto form a definite 40 position for the cue ball or for a carom ball tobe directed in any particular chute which may be called and if onemerging from the chute a ball comes to rest at marked places a count ofdefinte value ensues at a counter- 4.5 sunk space in the forward part ofthe table. A mat of this kind may be placed on any standard billiard orpool table and will afford an interesting game for a billiard player.The several features and novelty of the invention will be more fullyhereinafter de- 1928. Serial No. 292,798.

scribed and will be definitely indicated in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention- Figure l is aplan View of the mat embodying my improvement.

Figure 2 is a transverse section of the forward part of the mat.

Figure 3 is a perspective section showing the several longitudinal ribsdefining the ball 4integral with the body of the mat as indicated at 2which may be an inch or more in height and uniformly distributed acrossthe face of the billiard or pool table, defining several chutes whichare ten as indicated and are numbered of increasing value from the rearto the front, the two central chutes being numbered from one to ten, theadjacent chates from two to twenty, the two outer chutes from ten to ahundred and the other chutes from the sides, five to fifty. Thesenumbers may be marked on the face of the cloth forming the cover on therubber mat and will enable the player to call his count in endeavoringto place the ball on any particular' spot. 8 indicates a removablesection of the mat flush with the surface with marked stations for a cueor cai-om ball and may have spaced spots to place a ball in differentpositions forward of the front cushions. This section may be marked forpositions of a cue ball to be diverted into one ofthe chutes and take acount according to the place on which either or both comes to rest.

If the cue ball rebounds or comes to rest on any of the indicatednumbered spots in the chutes or designated positions in front of the matit may give the player a definite count value. At 4 I have shown acountersunk space Sil into which a ball may come to rest, which carriesa higher count value than the numerical spots in the chutes. At 5 isformed a relatively large depression in the cushion, the larger spacerenders it easier for the ball to fall into a depression. Y

As thus described when a cue ball is placed as in Figure l near thefront cushion and shot directly forward or angularly to one of the sideclin-tes and in striking the side or end cushions may come to a rest rata marked point in one of the chutes and the shot indicated by the numberprinted on the face of the outside cover of the mat; orby a harder blowof the eue, the cue ball may rebound and possibly iind a resting placeon one of the spots at one end of the mat beyond the chutes; or if ashot is called for the cue ball when placed in one of the spots on thesection 8, the count is taken according` to where the ball or balls cometo rest either in some one of the chutes or in the center of the table.The difliculty of the shot may be increased with increased cou-nt valueby placing the cue ball upon one of the spots .in the section 3 or bymaking a caroin shot or another ball placed on section 3 and placingupon some ene of the spots with a progressively increasing value of thecount.

The removable section permits the part which receives the cue stroke tobe readily withdrawn for covering with new cloth when damaged by beingstruck by a misapp'lied shot of the cue.

The value of the count to win the gaine may be 1000 r more, and theplayer first attaining such total wins the game.

Having thus described my invention what l claim as new and desire tosecure by Letterslatent, is-

A mat for a billiard table adapted to t snugly thereon having a seriesof longitudinally disposed chutes extending half way the length of thetable and numbered progressively from the rear, a vmember carrying aspot for a cue ball midway the forward part of the mat, said memberhaving a finished surface like that of said inat and being set into saidmat and having a rabbeted joint connection therewith disposing the upperiinished surface thereof flush with the upper surface of the mat, and aplurality of countersunk spots arrangedat different forward parts of thetable about the removably secured spot carrying niember for lodgment ofthe cue ball and balls. i

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

iASA BROCKMAN CROSTHWAT.

